Five Former Mayors Urge End To Employee Suspension

Five former mayors expressed their shock Tuesday night over the way the city council is handling the suspension of four city employees and the stripping of City Manager Ken Nordhoff’s authority to investigate the reporting of sexual abuse by an employee of the Lesher Center.

The five former mayors, represented at the podium by Gwen Regalia and Sue Rainey, and also signed by Kathy Hicks, Charlie Abrams and Gary Skrel, said in a letter to the council that they were shocked by the leak of confidential personnel information from closed session to the Contra Costa Times, which ran a story about the suspensions on May 4. They strongly suggested that the council investigate the source of the leaks, which they called “politically motivated.”

Meanwhile, the council hired consultant Mike Oliver of Municipal Resources Group to conduct an independent review Nordhoff's investigation regarding the reporting of child sexual abuse.

Nordhoff was relieved of his investigative duties into the matter when concerns arose that he might also have been slow to report information about the abuse, according to a story in the Contra Costa Times.

The case revolves around a Lesher Center employee, 27-year-old Jason Pedroza, who was charged with illegal sex with two minors--one from Pleasant Hill and one from Danville. Walnut Creek police said that four city employees knew and did not report to police that Pedroza was not behaving appropriately with minors. Those employees are arts director Barry Gordon, his deputy Kevin Safine, Lesher Center Manager Scott Denison and city Human Resource Manager Sally Rice. All have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.The employees said they believed Danville police were already investigating the allegations, thus did not think reporting it to Walnut Creek police was necessary.

And it is that investigation from which Nordhoff has been removed. At least two council members—Mayor Pro Tem Kristina Lawson and councilmember Justin Wedel--said that they believe Nordhoff may also have had knowledge of inappropriate activity without reporting it. Nordhoff has not been suspended, and continues his duties as city manager.

Meanwhile, the consultant will detemine whether the suspended employees, Nordhoff and possibly other employees should be disciplined.

But Lawson and Wedel want to put the matter on a future agenda so they can discuss their side of the issue in public.

The letter from the five former mayors reads, in part:

“We care deeply about this community’s well being and reputation. We’ve been pleased that the city has excellent leadership under the city manager, Ken Nordhoff. We were astonished to read negative comments about Mr. Nordhoff in the May 4 Contra Costa Times following a confidential city council closed session. In this regard, we are also dismayed that confidential information seems to have been leaked from city hall about an investigation on key city staff. It is time to end what appears to be a politically motivated inquiry, especially after the district attorney decided not to pursue charges of reporting violations. This is not in keeping with the long-standing civil approach to governing on which Walnut Creek prides itself. These valued employees should be allowed to get back to work serving the city. Finally, we are shocked that the city council has not demanded a thorough investigation of the leaks coming out of city hall, especially considering the nature of the confidential personnel information. It is time for the council and all departments to work together for the betterment of the city.”